Albert Hall concerts
HI Y'ALL, Tony Joe's back in town. White, that is, gigging with Creedence early last week at London's Albert Hall. And a mighty fine job he made of it too, judging from the reaction of two packed houses.
Creedence were responsible for packed houses, but Tony Joe was probably responsible for warming up those 10,000 or so folks who came to dig the rock sounds from Berkley, California.
By a curious coincidence I found myself sitting at the back of the stage for both nights of the Creedence show. The old Albert - it was 100 years old the other week - rocked down to its foundations on both nights. But this piece ain't about Creedence; it's about Tony Joe, who seems to have been pretty well ignored in these columns of recent. He's worth a top billing alone these days, and though he might not fill the Albert, I'm pretty sure there wouldn't be many free seats if some enterprising promoter put him on at the Festival or Queen Elizabeth Halls.
Tony Joe brought a band with him this time, whereas before he's come on his own. There's "Duck" Dunn from Booker T. and the MG's on bass, Sammy Creason on drums and Mike Utley on keyboards. Mike was over here earlier this year with the Dixie Flyers, who backed Rita Cooledge on the Byrds package.
"These are guys I use all the time," Tony Joe told me in his deep Southern drawl after his set last Tuesday. "I've got people now that I can cut loose with, and I prefer to cut loose rather than sing my myself." Talking with Tony Joe is an exasperating experience. He's a great guy to get on with, but that Southern drawl makes communications difficult.
"We've been over in Europe for three weeks and it's been real great. Every place we've been has been a load of rockin'," is a rough translation of Tony's next remark. "We're recording a live album of the whole tour and this be out in November. It's gonna be a real hard to listen to 'dem songs 'cos we've had some real good nights. I ain't heard the tapes yet, but i can't wait to get home and have myself a listen. We're off to Hawaii next and then I's taking two weeks off".
I suggested that Tony was getting much heavier with his current material and he agreed. "We've just got to get out there and rock most of the time. I play some numbers quiet and easy, and they seem to go down well too. I dinno how it would be just to go out ther by maself for an hour. I used to do that in ma Taxas days but no longer. We like cookin' up some rock out there."
How long had the band been together? "Well, me Sammy and Mike Utley's been together for about fou years now and Duck Dunn just cam over for this trip. It's the first time me and Duck has played together, but we all live in Memphis, and these guys have come in for sessions on ma albums. We know it sounds good."
How about working with Creedence? "Man. I real dig going round with Creedence. We all dig each other. They're fine rock and roll musicians, the best in the world probably."
Tony hopes to be back in England next March, but before that he'll be making his first film. "It'll be a kinda' funky movie about a cat and his music. There'll be four guys in his band and it'll show him playing the clubs on the funky circuit and film him in motel rooms."
A gulp of large vodka and orange and Tony was looking impatient. He wanted to see Creedence for the last time.
1972.
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